“Everything happened so quickly,” he told Inter’s official website. “I am still in shock - I don’t even know what to say. Dinamo is my home and it is difficult to leave but when Inter call you, one of the biggest clubs in the world, you can’t refuse.

“Obviously I must still pass my medical but I hope they are just a formality.”

Croatia legend Zvonimir Boban, who played for AC Milan for over a decade, was full of praise for his compatriot.

“The player has talents that could make him even better than me,” he told Sky Italia. “He is an incredibly serious professional for someone his age. Kovacic is a complete player. He is not a born regista but he is playing there now. He is a complete talent that can still grow - he has incredible potential.

“I didn’t expect all this. I learned about it this afternoon. It was a surprise. Inter did very well to sign him. I believe he is perfect for the 3-5-2, he can play as a second striker or advanced playmaker and sees the field like a playmaker.”

Kuzmanovic, 25, also heads to Inter in a deal rumoured to be worth around €1 million.

Serbia international, who joined Stuttgart for €8 million from Fiorentina in 2009, would have been out of contract with the Bundesliga club at the end of the season.

"I am happy to wear the jersey," Kuzmanovic told Tuttomercatoweb. "Valencia were interested, but my desire was always to return to Italy."